Steve Harper has backed former Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce to succeed at new club Sunderland, and says it is a “cracking appointment”.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Harper, who played under Allardyce at Newcastle, believes his old manager will make big changes at Wearside and get the best out of the Black Cats.

He said: “He will certainly make big changes in and around the place, he did that at Newcastle.

“He will give the players exposure to all areas, not just on the pitch, off the pitch to get the best out of themselves.

“He’ll organise them, they will be well drilled, they’ll be a threat from set pieces and what he will do is give them a platform to get the results and, by having that well organised platform, give them the opportunity to go out and play from there.